The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of
Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced several changes to his
Cabinet and Parliamentary Secretary responsibilities.

ďI am delighted to have a strong team of capable and committed
individuals working closely with me in many capacities as we continue to
work on every front to lead Newfoundland and Labrador progressively into
a new era of opportunity, social justice and sustainable self-reliance,Ē
said Premier Williams. ďI wish to thank Paul Shelley for his unwavering
commitment and professionalism, his sound advice around the Cabinet
table, and his loyal service to the people of this province. And I
welcome my new ministers and look forward to their contributions as we
continue to work with our caucus in implementing our vision for this
province.Ē

The following portfolios will be under new leadership effective
immediately:

Minister of Justice - The Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services - The Honourable Ross
Wiseman
Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and the Minister
responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing - The Honourable
Shawn Skinner

The Honourable Tom Rideout who was serving in an acting capacity, has
been affirmed as the Attorney General. He will maintain his other
portfolios as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Minister
responsible for Aboriginal Affairs.

Premier Williams also announced the following:

Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier - Paul Oram
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment Ė Terry French
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture -
Harry Harding

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Media contact:
Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-3960, 351-1227elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca

BIOGRAPHIES

Ministers

Hon. Tom Osborne
Member for St. Johnís South
Minister of Justice

Born in St. Johnís in 1964, Tom Osborne was educated at Brother Edmund
Rice High School and graduated from Cabot College in St. Johnís. He
worked with Statistics Canada from 1986 to 1990, with Small Business
Enterprise from 1990 to 1995, and with the Penney Group of Companies
from 1990 until his election in 1996. He was elected in the general
elections of 1996, 1999 and 2003. He was elected Opposition Caucus
vice-chair, was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Leader of the
Opposition, and served as Opposition critic for Industry, Trade and
Technology, Government Services and Lands, and Environment and Labour.
He has also served as a Member of the Public Accounts Committee.
Minister Osborne was appointed to Cabinet in November 2003 and served as
Minister of Environment from 2003 to 2006. On March 14, 2006, he was
appointed Minister of Health and Community Services. On January 19,
2007, he was appointed Minister of Justice. Minister Osborne is married
to Yvonne (McGrath) of Placentia and has two daughters Rhiannon and
Kate.

Veteran MHA and Cabinet Minister Tom Rideout is the provinceís Minister
of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Minister responsible for Aboriginal
Affairs, and Attorney General. He was sworn in as Minister of Fisheries
and Aquaculture on November 8, 2005, and simultaneously received the
portfolio of Deputy Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and maintained
his role of Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. Minister
Rideout was first sworn in as Minister responsible for Aboriginal
Affairs on November 6, 2003, at which time he was also pointed to the
position of the Minister of Transportation and Works (formerly Works,
Services and Transportation). This came just 14 days after Minister
Rideout was successfully re-elected to represent the people of
Lewisporte District, a position he was first elected to in February
1999. In 1994, Minister Rideout enrolled in Law School at the University
of Ottawa, and in 1997 graduated with a Baccalaureate of Laws (LL.B.).
He articled in St. Johnís with Morris, Pittman and Powell and was
admitted to the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador as a Barrister,
Solicitor and Notary in June 1998. Minister Rideout served as an
associate in the practice of law with Fraize Law Offices. Prior to
pursuing law, Minister Rideout served as Leader of the Official
Opposition between May 1989 and September 1991, after which he served as
a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada until 1993. In
1989, he was elected Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive
Conservative Party, and on March 22, became the provinceís fourth
Premier since Confederation. He led the government until May 5, 1989,
and also held the portfolio of Minister responsible for
Intergovernmental Affairs during his tenure as Premier. Prior to
becoming Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Minister Rideout
served in Premier Brian Peckfordís Cabinet as Minister of Fisheries
between 1985 and 1989 and Minister of Culture, Recreation and Youth
between 1984 and 1985. Minister Rideout entered politics in 1975,
representing the people of Baie Verte-White Bay District. He retained
this seat in the House of Assembly on four successive occasions, in
1979, 1982, 1985 and 1989. Prior to entering public life, Minister
Rideout was a teacher at St. Theresaís All-Grade School at Fleur de Lys
and St. Pius X Central High School at Baie Verte, where he also served
as vice-principal. Tom was born and raised in Fleur de Lys. He and his
late wife, Jacinta, have four children, Terry, Tina, Margaret and
Kara-Lynn.

Hon. Shawn Skinner
Member for St. Johnís Centre
Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister
responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing

Shawn Skinner was born and raised in the heart of St. Johnís, where he
attended Holy Cross Junior High and Brother Rice High Schools, followed
by studies at Memorial University. Later, he earned a Diploma in Applied
Arts from Cabot College, in addition to a Certificate in Adult Education
from St. Francis Xavier University. In 1998, he became a member of the
Canadian Institute of Management, from which he was granted the
Professional Manager designation. This designation denotes a combined
academic and practical experience background and is awarded to
individuals who successfully meet an established set of criteria that is
reflective of high standards of professional integrity, work performance
and recognition. For 20 years, he was involved with Keyin College, St.
Johnís campus, in the capacities of instructor, faculty supervisor,
principal, and operator. He has worked with many people in St. Johnís
over the years and has been a very active member in his community. He
has served as a St. Johnís Municipal Councillor for Ward 2 and has been
involved with various community and volunteer groups, including the
following: vice-president of the St. Johnís Boys and Girls Club; member
of the Royal St. Johnís Regatta Committee; president of the Benevolent
Irish Society; board member of Friends of Victoria Park; active
volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross; volunteer with St. Johnís Canada
Day Committee; Founding Member of the St. Johnís Sports and
Entertainment Committee, responsible for Mile One Stadium; and chair of
the CNIB Visions Luncheon. He was first elected to the House of Assembly
in November 2003. He was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the
Premier on July 5, 2006. On January 19, 2007, he was appointed Minister
of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister responsible for
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

Hon. Ross Wiseman
Member for Trinity North
Minister of Health and Community Services

Ross Wiseman, MHA for Trinity North, was first elected in a by-election
on April 25, 2000. Prior to entering political life, he had a successful
15-year career in health administration with the Peninsulas Health Care
Corporation and the former Clarenville Area Hospital Board. In addition,
he has extensive experience in the financial services industry, having
held several branch and regional management positions throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador. He has demonstrated a strong volunteer
commitment to his community. He is a member of the Clarenville Area
Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his election, was chairperson for
Bonavista-Trinity-Placentia Integrated and Vista School Board, as well
as an executive member and a coach in the Clarenville area minor hockey
system and was involved as a leader in the scouting movement. While a
Member of the House of Assembly, he has served as the deputy chair of
the Public Accounts Committee. He was also appointed in April 2001 to
chair the House of Assembly Select Committee to inquire into Bill 9,
entitled An Act to Provide for the Recovery of Tobacco Related Health
Care Costs. In 2005, he also chaired the public consultations on the
ďSmoking Ban in Bars and Bingo HallsĒ resulting in a new Act entitled
the Smoke Free Environment Act (2005). On September 26, 2001, he was
appointed the Opposition critic for Health and Community Services.
Following his victory in the general election in the district of Trinity
North on October 21, 2003, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to
the Minister of Health and Community Services on November 6, 2003 and
was confirmed in that role in the departmental restructuring on February
20, 2004. He was sworn in as the Member for Trinity North on November
12, 2003. He chaired the Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and
Seniors and in that capacity chaired the Public Consultations on Healthy
Aging, a process to assist the government in developing a Provincial
Healthy Aging Plan. On January 19, 2007, he was appointed Minister of
Health and Community Services. Along with his wife Sandra, he continues
to reside in the district of Trinity North.

Parliamentary Secretaries

Terry French
Member for Conception Bay South
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment

First elected in a by-election on November 12, 2002 to succeed his
father, Bob, who passed away while in office, Terry French has
previously served as the Intergovernmental Affairs critic for the
Official Opposition, as critic for Government Services and Lands and as
the Parliamentary Assistant to Opposition Leader Danny Williams. From
1997 to 2002, he served as executive assistant to St. Johnís East Member
of Parliament Norman Doyle. Mr. French was a graduate of Queen Elizabeth
High School in Foxtrap in 1984. He subsequently attended Memorial
University until joining his father in a family business in 1986. He has
strong involvement in the community, particularly in community sports.
He served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Conception Bay
South Sports Hall of Fame, a volunteer in the Summer Games in Conception
Bay South, a Conception Bay South Minor Softball Coach, a member of the
Conception Bay South Softball Umpire Association, and a Level 4 Umpire
working at the National Softball Tournament. Mr. French is married to
Denise (Butt) and they have one daughter, Abbey. Mr. French was
appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier on November 6, 2003. He
was sworn in as the Member for Conception Bay South on November 12,
2003. On January 19, 2007, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to
the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment

Harry Harding
Member for Bonavista North
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

First elected to the House of Assembly in 2002, Harry Harding was
re-elected as the Member for Bonavista North in 2003. Originally from
Greenspond, he attended Bishopís College in St. Johnís, Gander District
Vocational School, and Memorial University. For the past 29 years, Mr.
Harding and his wife Abbie have lived in Badgerís Quay. They have two
children, Jamie and Patty. Immediately prior to being elected to the
House, Mr. Harding was employed as resource manager with Beothic Fish
Processors Ltd. in Valleyfield for 14 years. He has also worked as a
town clerk/manager for 15 years with the rural district of Badgerís
Quay-Valleyfield-Poolís Island. He also worked as a payroll clerk/office
manager with St. Lawrence Construction at Churchill Falls and Labrador
City, as a teacher at Greenspond and Wareham, as a plant worker with
Fishery Products International and as a labourer with Fishermenís Union
Trading Company in Greenspond. Mr. Harding has been very active in
community life, having served with distinction as a volunteer in many
organizations, including with Lions, Badgerís Quay Fire Department, Cape
Freels Development Association and Newfoundland and Labrador Association
of Municipal Administrators. Awards he has received include the Melvin
Jones Fellow (the highest award from the International Association of
Lions Clubs). On March 14, 2006, he was appointed to serve as the
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment. On January 19, 2007, he was appointed to serve as the
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Paul Oram
Member for Terra Nova
Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier

Paul Oram, son of Dawson and Elizabeth Oram, Glovertown, completed
primary and high school education at Glovertown. As well, he completed a
business management program. Mr. Oram married Karen (Greenham) and has
two daughters. He is a successful business entrepreneur; he co-founded
and was a partner in D & P Quality Builders Ltd., and he established
Oramís Funeral Home and Birchview Manor. Mr. Oram has been very involved
with local community issues; he has served on the Health and Community
Board (Central), was deputy mayor of Glovertown and served on numerous
church boards. He was elected to the House of Assembly as MHA. for the
District of Terra Nova on October 21, 2003. On February 2, 2005, he was
appointed to chair the provinceís Red Tape Reduction Task Force. On May
31, 2005, he was appointed by Premier Williams to serve on the
provinceís Business Advisory Board. On January 19, 2007, he was
appointed to serve as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.

2007 01 19
11:15 a.m.

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